Tonic, the first orangutan ever born at Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury, has died at just 15 months old. His health had been deteriorating and took a sudden turn, and he passed away on Tuesday.
Staff said watching Tonic grow had been a “privilege” and that he had “captured the hearts of so many” since his birth in July 2025.
Sudden decline despite signs of improvement
In a statement, the park said Tonic had been unwell throughout the week and was being closely monitored by its veterinary and keeper teams. On the day before his death, he showed some “really positive signs of improvement” and gave hope he was beginning to recover, but his condition then took a sudden and severe turn.
“Our entire team is devastated that, despite all our care, attention, and dedication, he passed away,” the statement said. “His magnificent hair, cheeky antics, and unmistakable little personality made him one of a kind.”
Focus on Tonic’s mother, Awan
Keepers say their priority is now caring for Tonic’s mother, Awan. She moved to the Rushden Road park, between Canterbury and Sandwich, in 2024 and quickly became attached to male Jin, who arrived from Dorset’s Monkey World in 2019.
Orangutans can weigh up to 200lbs, stand more than one metre tall, and live up to 50 years. All three sub-species – Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli – are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Declining population and recent park loss
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there were more than 230,000 orangutans a century ago compared with about 110,000 today. Reasons for the sharp decline include loss of habitat, poaching, and extreme weather such as wildfires in their native south east Asian rainforests.
Tonic’s death comes less than a month after the park’s red panda, Mai, died aged 13. She arrived at Wingham at 10 months old in April 2014, but her health deteriorated after she developed severe arthritis, and the loss of several teeth made eating increasingly difficult. The park’s veterinary and animal care teams made the decision to put her to sleep.
